receive this love into
their hearts.

At his request, I followed with a short address, endorsing what he had
said. I lovingly entreated them to remember his words, and to do as he
had done--give their hearts to God; and thus become His happy, loving
children. A hymn was sung; earnest prayers were offered up; the
benediction was pronounced--and this remarkable service came to an end.

Ere they departed they gathered around Sandy and kissed him. They asked
him more questions about this new way, and with some of them he had
earnest faithful talks. They all came and shook hands with us, and very
kindly thanked us for our great love and kindness to their Ookemasis,--
the young chief,--as they now laughingly called Sandy.

After remaining with us some years, Sandy returned to his own land and
people. Among them he still lives a devoted, industrious Christian. He
is the right-hand man of the missionary, a blessing and a benediction to
many, and we count it as one of our "chief joys" that we were
instrumental in leading him into the light.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE NEW YEAR'S INDIAN FEAST.

From time immemorial the Indians have been noted for the number of their
feasts. Some of these--as the New Moon and the First-Fruits of the
corn, celebrated, by a part of the tribes--were generally innocent,
seeming to point to some Jewish origin in the dim past; others--such as
the feast of the dogs when the poor animals were wantonly torn to
pieces--were loathsome in the extreme.

As soon as the missionaries succeeded in getting the red men to listen
to the Gospel, they insisted upon the suppression of the sinful feasts;
especially as they were more or less associated with their ideas of
worship. Even the dog feast was considered "good medicine" to
propitiate the evil spirits: for the dogs were prized by the Indian next
to his children, and sacrificing them was making a very great offering.

When the missionaries went among the Northern Wood Crees, they met with
a great degree of success in winning the people from their pagan
superstitions. They, of course, insisted upon the entire giving up of
all the objectionable habits and customs of their past life; and among
them, their sinful feasts. However, they did not try to root the word
out of their language; but as a substitute for what was so wrong,
organised a Christian festival. This great feast was celebrated on New
Year's day--unless that day happened to fall on Sunda